Adjustable apparatus for pulverizing solid materials



March 19, 1968 G. o. CONNER 3,374,034

ADJUSTABLE APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING SOLID MATERIALS Filed NOV. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR 55 March 19, 1968 G. o. CONNER 3,374,034

ADJUSTABLE APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING SOLID MATERIALS Filed Nov. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR Guy 0. 6o/vA/zv? United States Patent 3,374,034 ADJUSTABLE APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING SOLID MATERIALS Guy 0. Conner, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Rolls-Royce of Canada, Limited, Lachine, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 508,655 9 Claims. (Cl. 299-86) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pulverizing head comprising a large mass for pulverizing solid materials and wherein the head is rotatable in a first direction on an axis that is parallel to and spaced from the material to be pulverized. The head includes at least one breaker element which may be somewhat cylindrical in configuration and rotatably mounted on the head on an axis that is also spaced from and parallel to the rotatable axis of the head. The breaker element is rotable about its axis in a direction that is opposite to the direction of rotation of the head. Adjustable drive means are provided to adjust the relative rotation between the head and each of the breaker elements mounted thereon such that at the instant when the breaker element is brought into engagement with the surface to be pulverized the rotational speed of the breaker elements and the head are synchronized whereby a peripheral point or projection on any one of said breaker elements is disposed so that its linear velocity due to the rotation of the head is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said projection due to the rotation of the breaker element whereby substantially compressive forces only are applied by said element perpendicularly against the surface to be pulverized.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in working of solid materials as for example in the breaking or pulverizing of hard materials formed of discrete particles such as mineral bearing solids and the like and also hard materials having metallic materials embedded therein such as for example steel reinforced con crete material and the like.

In my copending US. patent application Ser. No. 295,162, now Patent No. 3,219,390, issued Nov. 23, 1965, I have disclosed a novel apparatus especially designed for use in breaking or pulverizing hard materialswhich incorporates the concepts of generating and'directing pulverizing forces against the material in such manner that substantially only compressive forces are applied to said material'and effective to overcome the forces binding the discrete particles of materials together whereby particles are separated from said material and hence are pulverized, said compressive forces being thus applied in such manner that substantially no abrasion or lateral forces are evident between the elements used in said apparatus for applying said forces to the material and the material being worked upon.

As is likewise disclosed in said aforementioned copending US. application there is shown, as an embodiment incorporating the concepts as above described, a breaker head of considerable mass which is rotatable about a first axis that is parallel to the surface of a wall material to be pulverized, and a plurality of breaker elements rotatably supported on said head and rotatable about a second axis which is disposed in parallel spaced relation to the first axis. In practicing the concepts of the invention therein disclosed, the massive head is rotated in one direction and each of the breaker elements is rotated in an opposite direction whereby the rotational speed of the breaker ele- I ments and the head are synchronized such that at the inelement is carried into engagement with the wall of material, the linear velocity of said peripheral propection due to the rotation of the breaker element is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said peripheral projection due to the rotation of the head whereby the force (kinetic energy) generated by the rotation of said head is applied substantially compressively perpendicularly against said wall effective to pulverize the material underlying said projection.

As mentioned in the aforedescribed application, one of the advantages of the apparatus as just described over that well known in the art heretofore has been the fact that there is substantially little or no friction caused by the breaker element engaging the wall of material whereby the wearing of said breaker elements is at a substantial minimum amount which in turn enables the same to be used over a substantially longer period of time without sharpening and/or refabricating.

It has been found, after operating the apparatus as just described over a long period of time that. there does occur a certain amount of wear to the breaker elements merely because of the fact that the breaker element surface comes into engagement with the material being worked upon and that after a long period of use the contacting projections and/ or surfaces of the breaker element are somewhat worn away.

, When a change in the size of the breaker element occurs whereby its diameter is somewhat reduced, the above relationship that it the rotational speed of the breaker head and the breaker element are such that the linear velocity of a peripheral projection on the element due to the retation of the element is substantially equal and opposite to' the'linear velocity of said projection due to the rotation of the breaker head no longer exists, since such relationship depends upon the diameter of the head and each element. Therefore, if the diameter of the breaker element is reduced by being worn away, however small a reduction, the above relationship will no longer prevail. As a result, when the peripheral projection on each breaker element is presented to the wall of material for pulverization thereof, there will be some friction created inasmuch as the linear velocity of the peripheral point will no longer be zero as a result of the oppositely directed rotations of the breaker element and the supporting head.

Consequently, it has been determined that as the diameter of the breaker element is reduced, friction is created stant a peripheral point or projection of any one breaker by the breaker head engaging the surface of the material to. be worked upon thereby substantially decreasing its operating efficiency and likewise tool life.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a structure whereby if the size of the breaker element supported on the rotatable head of the machine become lessened as a result of use whereby the same are worn away, their rotational speed can be adjusted so as to rest the rotational speed thereof to correspond with that of the supporting end so that the above rotational relationship is re-obtained.

Still another advantage of the structure of the present invention is to provide an adjustable drive for the breaker elements and/or other fabricating tools, as will be herein after more fully described, such as to provide any predesired rotational relationship between the breaker elel and particularly showing the configuration of the working tools supported on the underside of the head of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a solid material such as reinforced concrete having metallic steel rods embedded therein;

FIG 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the rods in the reinforced concrete of FIG. 3 and showing the pattern of blows applied thereto by the compacting elements of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the steel reinforcing rod of FIG. 4 and showing the configuration of the groove formed therein by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pattern of blows section of FIG. 4 and showing the pyramidal shape of projections formed on said reinforcing rod by the compacting elements of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of material working apparatus of the present invention and which is especially designed for use in vehicles supporting the apparatus above the material to be worked uon; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 and taken along the line 88 thereof, with the end cap removed to more clearly show the disposition of each of the work cylinders around the main supporting shaft for the apparatus.

With reference now directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment of apparatus disclosed therein is seen to include a head 2 formed of a suitable metallic material so as to have a considerable mass, said head being rotatably supported within a yoke member 4 which in turn is securely fastened by bolts 5 or the like to a frame member 8. As is mentioned in my copending application, the frame member may be supported within a suitable associated mobile tractor or crawler type vehicle whereby to carry the apparatus into position to work upon the material to be pulverized.

The head member 2 is provided with a centrally upwardly extending shaft 12 which mounts a drive pinion 14 on its upper end. Although not herein shown, the drive pinion 14 is intended to be geared to a suitable conventional driving element such as an electric or gasoline engine.

A plurality of compacting or breaker elements, as identified by the reference numerals 20, 21 and 22 are rotatably mounted within the head 2 so as to be suspended from the underside surface 2a thereof, each of said breaker elements having a shaft identified by the suflix a and which extends upwardly through the head 2 into a gear chamber 25 formed between the outer peripheral edge portion of the head 2 and the yoke 4. The upper end of the shaft of each breaker element, such as for example the shaft 20a of breaker element 20 mounts a suitable pinion- 27 A ring gear 30 having external teeth 30a and internal teeth 30b formed on its opposed side edges thereof is floatably disposed within said chamber 25 and is seen to rest upon a suitable bearing surface 32. A drive pinion carried on the end of drive shaft 36 is likewise seento be disposed within the upper end of chamber 25 so as to be in meshing engagement with the teeth 30a on said ring gear 30. The inner teeth 30b of said ring gear 30 are in meshing engagement with the pinion 27 carried on the upper end of each of the breaker element shafts 20a22a. The shaft 36 extends upwardly and outwardly above the yoke 4 and rigidly mounts a spline gear 40 thereon. A drive screw 41 mounted on drive shaft 42 is disposed to mesh with said spline gear 40, said drive shaft comprising the output of a conventional adjustable drive source shown schematically at 43 such as an adjustable electric motor or gasoline unit as is well known in the art.

Each of the breaker elements 29, 21 and 22 is thus driven by the above described drive assembly by said source 43.

With the pulverizing head assembly, as just described, mounted on a suitable frame as depicted schematically by the reference numeral 8 in FIG. 1 and presented to an upstanding Wall of solid material (not shown), the head element 2 is intended to be driven through its pinion 14 and connected to a conventional drive source (not shown) in one direction of rotation whereas the breaker elements 20-22 are intended to be rotatably driven by the drive source 43 in the opposite direction, the rotation of said head and each of said elements being synchronized in the manner as is described in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 295,162, now Patent No. 3,219,- 390, issued Nov. 23, 1965, such that the linear velocity of any peripheral point on any one of said breaker elements such as for example, point A on breaker element 20 and point B on breaker element 21 due to the rotation of the breaker head 2 is equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said points due to the oppositely directed rotation of each of the associated breaker elements 20 and 21. In this manner, when the said peripheral surfaces of said breaker elements are presented to the wall of material, the kinetic energy generated by the rotation of the head element 2 is applied to the wall of material substantially as a compressive force and perpendicular to the surface of said Wall, such that no abrasive or lateral forces are present and the wall of material is thus pulverized to a predetermined depth underlying said contacting points.

As will be realized, primarily because of the differences in the makeup of the material comprising the breaker elements 2022 and the wall of material to be pulverized thereby, said breaker elements may become slightly worn after an extended use such that their diameter is reduced. And, inasmuch as the synchronization of the rotatable speeds of the head element and each of the breaker elements are related to the diameter of the breaker elements, as said diameters are reduced, the breaker elements are no longer in said prearranged rotatable synchronization with the head element 2. Consequently, the linear velocity of any one point on any one of said breaker elements due to the rotation of each breaker element is not equal to the linear velocity of said points due to the rotation of the head element 2, and consequently when said breaker elements are presented to a wall of material the periphery thereof will wipe across said material surface so as to causesome degree of friction therebetween, resulting in abrasion of said material and to thereby substantially reduce the efficiency of operation of the pulverizing structure.

When this occurs the adjustable drive source 43 of the breaker elements is adjusted to thus return the rotatable speed of each of said breaker elements to the proper relationship with respect to the rotational speed of the heads such that the linear velocity of the peripheral points on any one of said breaker elements due to the rotation of said elements is equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said points due to the rotation of the head.

On occasion, it may be desirable to pulverize nonmetallic solid material which has metallic material embedded therein and which requires a cutting of said metallic material in order to remove the same along with the solid material of non-metallic form. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a section of conventional reinforced concrete .as identified by the reference character C is shown to have embedded therein steel reinforcing rods r which are disposed therein in a cross-hatched arrangement to effect support both longitudinally and laterally thereof.

In an effort to pulverize and remove such composite material from its location, such as a roadbed or the like, it is required to cut the steel enforcing rods while pulverizing the concrete solid material in order to remove the complete substance.

To accomplish this, and with reference now directed particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pulverizing structure is seen to include a cutting element as identified by the reference numeral 50 which is suspended from the underside of the head 2 in substantially the same manner as the breaker elements 2022, said cutting element 50 being supported upon a drive shaft 51, the latter extending upwardly through said head and mounting a pinion 53 on its uppermost end.

The pinion 53, in turn, is seen to mesh with the internal gear teeth formed on ring gear 55 floatably disposed adjacent the bottom of the aforementioned gear chamber 25, the exterior gear teeth of said ring gear 55 meshing with drive pinion 58 formed on the lowermost end of shaft 59. The shaft 59 is seen to extend upwardly through the supporting yoke 4 and frame 8 and mounts a suitable spline gear 61 on its upper end, the latter, in turn, meshing with drive screw 62 carried on the shaft 63 of a conventional motor drive source 65 similar to drive source 43.

In operation, the drive source 65 is actuated so as to rotatably drive the cutting element 50 at such speed to perform a cutting operation on the metallic rods r whereby the same are removed at the same time the surrounding concrete material is pulverized by the associated breakers 20-22 of the head assembly.

The manner in which this is accomplished will now be described.

As the pulverizing head is presented to the concrete material C so as to pulverize the same to the point where the metallic rods r are exposed, the breaker element 20 which is seen to have horizontally extending flutes 20' as shown in FIG. 1 formed on its exterior surface thereof, also engage the surface of the rod r compressively so as to perform a cold forging of said rod, thus forming longitudinally extending grooves extending from left to right as shown in the bar of FIG. 4, which grooves are identified by the reference character g.

Likewise, as the breaker element 21 having vertically extending flutes shOWn in FIG. 1 as represented by the reference numeral 21', engage the surface of the rod material said flutes 21 likewise perform a cold forging operation thereon so as to provide vertically extending grooves as depicted in FIG. 4 by the reference character k. After several or more rotations of the head 2 and cold forging operations by the breaker elements 20-21-22, a

' predetermined patterned projection configuration p such as shown in FIG. 6 appears on the face of the rod material r which are pyramidal in configuration and extending outwardly from the surface.

The diameter of the cutting element 50 is especially chosen so as to be somewhat less than the diameter of any one of the breaker elements 20-22 so that the latter will first engage the wall of the rod material to thus form the aforementioned pyramidal projections prior to the cutting element 50 engaging said projections.

Thereafter, when said cutting element does engage said projections p it will merely cut or remove the top thereof. In this manner, the quantity of material removed for each revolution of the head 2 by the cutting element 50, once the latter begins its cutting operation, is reduced which is effective to decrease the cut per lineal inch of travel of the cutting element 50, which, in turn, permits the cutting element to be rotated at a substantially higher speed for the same kind of rod material such as steel shown herein, than has heretofore been possible when the cutting element is continuously engaging the steel material. Also by merely cutting off the top of the pyramidal shape projection the cutting element is not working continuously but merely at a predetermined periodic rate depending upon the rotational velocity thereof. In this manner, the temperature of the cutting element is lower than would otherwise be if it were in continuous engagement with the metallic material which likewise enhances its effective life.

With reference now directed to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is herein shown a second embodiment of material working apparatus incorporarting the concepts of the present invention and which is especially designed for working on material M that is disposed therebelow, such as a roadbed or the like.

As shown particularly in FIG. 7, the present embodiment of apparatus includes a drive shaft 66 which, al though not herein shown, may be rotatably supported within a suitable crawler type of vehicle as for example one that may be driven over the road bed M in such manner as to present the working apparatus laterally thereto.

A suitable drive pinion 67 may be drivingly connected to any suitable source of power unit such as for example the drive shaft of the vehicle whereby the complete head assembly is rotated thereby.

A plurality of cylindrical breaker elements each being identified by the reference numeral 72 are rotatably sup-. ported within end plates 74 and 75 mounted upon the aforesaid drive shaft 66.

A drive sleeve as identified at 78 is rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft 66 adjacent end plate 75 and is seen to be integrally formed with a drive gear 78a. Drive gear 78a in turn is seen to mesh with a pinion 81. Pinion 81 is mounted on one end of transfer shaft 83, rotatably supported in end plate 75, the opposite end of said shaft 83 mounting a drive pinion 85. Each of the drive pinions 85 meshes with a ring gear mounted on the end of each breaker element as shown at 87 in FIG. 7.

A drive gear 89 is mounted upon the aforementioned drive sleeve 78 being suitably keyed thereto, and drivingly connected to a source of rotatable power such as for example the motive unit of the supporting vehicle.

With this assembly supported within the vehicle, such as a crawler type vehicle as aforementioned, whereby the breaker elements 72 extend laterally across the roadbed M, said assembly is intended to be driven whereby the peripheral projections of each of the breaker elements as are depicted by reference numeral 72a, are brought compressively into engagement with the surface of the underlying roadbed M so as to pulverize and/or compact the same to a'predetermined depth effectively to substantially level the roadbed, thus: removing any high spots thereon. More specifically, the assembly pulverizes the hard spots and compacts the soft spots, such being particularly the case on rural roads.

It is to be understood that in the use of the assembly shown in FIG. 7 pulverization of the roadbed is only one of the operations effected. Additionally, such assembly is also capable of high speed and economical compacting and solidifying of the roadbed foundation, prior to the applying a final top layer of asphalt or gravel thereon, as the assembly moves therealong, thus meeting government specifications with respect to roadbed foundation structure. Also, the present assembly may be used to resurface sidewalks, airport runways, driveways, or any relatively hard planar surface, where such surface has been damaged in use by excessive weight, frost damage, excessive summer heat, etc.

To accomplish this, it will be assumed that the vehicle is propelled down the roadbed at a predetermined velocity, such as for example feet per minute. The rotation of the head and each of the breaker elements 72 in order to accomplish abrasion free engagement with said material must therefore be such that the linear velocity of each projection 72a on each breaker element is also 100 feet per minute, but in the opposite direction to the direction of the motion of the vehicle.

With this relationship established and thus maintained, as each projection 72a engages the surface of the roadbed M the forces generated by the rotation of the 7 head are applied to the material, the magnitude of said applied forces thus determining the depth of pulverization. In this manner, the vehicle may be propelled at any preselected velocity along the roadbed and the linear speed of the breaking element projections 72a may then be matched with the linear speed of the vehicle but-in the opposite direction thereto, thereby enabling the operation of such apparatus with said vehicle substantially easy for the workman in the field.

As is aforementioned, the use of the pulverizing and compacting apparatus as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is especially designed for use in road building and the like and as such the breaker elements may be of any preselected length as for example 25 feet or more to accommodate the modern day roadbed.

However, as will be obvious, the apparatus as disclosed herein may also be supported within a stationary frame and driven in the manner aforesaid to provide rotation to the driving shaft 66 and breaker elements 72 whereby the linear velocity of each of the projections 72a on the breaker element 72 due to the rotation of the shaft 66 is equal and opposite to the linear velocity of each of said projections due to the rotation of the breaker element 72. This assembly may have many other uses such as for example a tile or concrete block cutter. In this instance the length of the breaker elements 72 may be made substantially narrower, as for example of an inch or less.

It will be appreciated that the assembly of FIG. 7 provides an entirely new means and method of surfacing for new roads, and particularly for resurfacing of old roads that have been damaged by use, whereby the new surface, provided by the assembly, is as good as or better than the original roadbed surface when new, with the original masonry base being retained. Specifically the method includes providing a road surfacing machine having a rotatable head 74 and a plurality of breaker elements 72 carried by and movable with the head with means connected to the breaker elements to cause their rotation on the head in a direction opposite to the rotations of the head, there being means to cause the breaker elements to engage the road surface to pulversize and compact the same; and applying said machine to a road surface to level the same.

An additional method includes providing a road surfacing machine for leveling an associated road surface and capable of generating pulversizing force of a magnitude greater than the force binding the discrete particles of the road surface together, and applying said force in a predetermined pattern compressively without abrading action against said road surface to pulverize, compact and level the same.

Having thus described the several preferred forms of this work-performing apparatus, especially designed for solid materials, it will be appreciated that the same is susceptible to various modifications, combinations, and arrangements of parts without departing from the inventive concepts that are disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for disintegrating solid material for-med of discrete particles comprising a support rotatably mounting a head element on a first axis which when the apparatus is operable is parallel to the surface of said material, at least one breaker element rotatably supported on said head on a second axis disposed in parallel spaced relation to said first axis, drive means for rotating said heat element in one direction about said first axis effective to carry a peripheral point of said breaker element for engagement with said wall, adjustable drive means for rotating said breaker element about said second axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said head, and means operable with said adjustable drive means for synchronizing the rotation of said breaker element with said breaker head so that the instant the peripheral point on said breaker element is carried into engagement with said wall of material the linear velocity of said peripheral point due to the rotation of said breaker element is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said point due to the rotation of said head, and said peripheral point at the instant of contact with said wall being operable to transmit the force gen- 8 erated by the rotation of said head substantially compressively against said wall and perpendicularly against the surface thereof underlying said point.

2. Apparatus as is defined in claim 1 and wherein a plurality of breaker elements are mounted on said head element in radial spaced relation about the rotational center thereof, each being rotatable on an axis disposed in parallel spaced relation to said first axis, the adjustable drive means being operable to rotate each of said breaker elements in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said breaker head, and wherein the synchronizing means are operable with said adjustable drive means to synchronize the speed of rotation of each breaker element with said head element so that at the instant of peripheral point on each breaker element is carried into engagement with the surface of said material the linear velocity of said peripheral point due to the rotation of the breaker element is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said point due to the rotation of said head element.

3. In apparatus as is defined in claim 1 and wherein the synchronizing means is effective to provide each breaker element with the same rotational speed.

4. Apparatus for disintegrating solid material formed of discrete particles having metallic materials associated therewith comprising a support rotatably mounting a head element on a first axis which when the apparatus is operable is parallel to the surface of said material, at least one breaker element rotatably supported on said head on a second axis disposed in parallel spaced relation to said first axis, drive means for rotating said head element in one direction about said first axis effective to carry a peripheral point of said breaker element for engagement with said wall, adjustable drive means for rotating said breaker element about said second axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said head, means operable with said adjustable drive means for synchronizing the rotation of said breaker element with said breaker head so that at the instant the peripheral point on said breaker element is carried into engagement with said wall of material the linear velocity of said peripheral point due to the rotation of said breaker element is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said point due to the rotation of said head, and said peripheral point at the instant of contact with said wall being operable to transmit the force generated by the rotation of said head substantially compressively against said wall and perpendicularly against the surface thereof underlying said point, a cutting element rotatably supported on said head and movable thereby into engagement with said surface of material, and drive means for rotating said cutting element effective to cut and separate at least portions of said metallic materials from said solid material.

5. In apparatus as is defined in claim 4 and wherein the cutting element drive means is adjustable to preselect the rotational velocity of said element.

6. Apparatus for disintegrating solid material formed of discrete particles comprising a support rotatably mounting at least one breaker element above said material, said breaker element being rotatably supported on an axis disposed in parallel spaced relation to and above the surface of said underlying material, drive means for driving said support effective to give the peripheral surface of said breaker element a predetermined linear velocity in a first direction with respect to the surface of said material and the second drive means for rotating said element sufficient to give the peripheral surface thereof an identical linear velocity but in the opposite direction to its rotation due to the actuation of said support, whereby at the instant said peripheral surface of said element is carried into engagement with said under lying material the linear velocity of said peripheral surface due to the rotation of said element is substantially equal and opposite to the linear velocity of said surface due to the rotation of said support, operable to transmit the force generated by the rotation of said support substantially compressively against the underlying surface.-

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 and wherein a plurality of breaker elements are mounted on said support in spaced relation thereto, each of said breaker elements being rotatively driven in the same direction of rotation.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 and wherein the support is moved over the underlying material at a pre determined velocity and the drive means for said breaker element is actuated so as to provide the peripheral surface of said element with a linear velocity that is equal and opposite to that caused by the movement of the support along said surface.

breaker element extends over the surface of the material in a direction substantially perpendicular of the movement of the support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,014,186 9/1935 Myers 299-39 3,063,690 11/1962 Cornell 299-39 3,288,536 11/1966 Galis et a1. 299-86 X OTHER REFERENCES 915,980 11/1946 France.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 and wherein the 15 ERNEST PURSER Examine" 

